HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 7,2018 CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE
COMMON COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
March 7, 2018
Committee Members In attendance: Lisa Gill, Ron Ellis, Nathan Samuel
Guest: Councilperson Callie Jahn,Vicki Conlin,Ann Langley, Heather Metcalf, Peggy Hardaway and Richard
Eklund
Call to Order: Councilperson Gill called the meeting to order at 3 p.m.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—none
NEW BUSINESS:
Mr. Samuel asked to add item "d" under new business. Sanitation/Street—growth
A. Joe Hurt—employee application process. Mr. Hurt could not attend. No discussion
B. Not-for-Profit Contributions—Ms.Jahn asked for clarification as to special projects request to the
Council i.e.Jeff Main Street,JHS, Concert in the Parks, etc. Some of these funds were used out of
the gaming line. The Council has several donations/promotions that are solely paid out of it's
own line item (i.e.Jeff Main Street; Concert in the Park, City Pride,JNLA). Other small
donations/promotions are paid out of Special Projects or Promotions line. The committee
agreed that the City should not pay donations out of Tax money—taxpayers only wants city
services paid with tax dollars. Maybe look at project based events—not a donation for operating
expense. Items should be on the agenda and not added during Councilperson comments. The
committee would like all request to be transparent. Too many complaints regarding the
appearance of only supporting one school. Discussion—go back to each councilperson given an
amount to support their district. $50,000 General; and $20,000 Gaming (Steamboat Nights—
$25,000 Edit money). Work with neighborhood committees to review needs. Mr. Samuel
offered two options: not give to not-for profits; only use part of gaming funds. In 2019—still
only use gaming, and to review how much money to budget. Ms.Jahn suggested again to only
accepting request for project or event based with a positive impact on Jeffersonville. Workshops
-two a year and make sure to get the word out (May and November). Really don't like to idea of
deciding who is selected. Probability is that smaller requests will be filled. Would like to be
transparent vs what we are doing now. $75,000 of gaming is given to the Homeless Coalition.
Suggested if we do two workshops to use May and October so that claims are processed in
correct budget year. Also, suggested only holding the workshop once a year in June/July. Go
back to Council to review these thoughts: identify in an ordinance of how we support/don't
support not-for-profits; do we need to go back to each Councilperson have a fixed dollar amount
to spend in his/her District. Do we want to use an application process to consider request, as
well as, setting dollar limits for request? Consider the number of not-for-profits and the amount
of work involved for application workshops. And or, if we want to cut off these requests
altogether. Ms.Jahn to contact Mr. Wilder regarding the write up of a new ordinance. Ms.
Conlin to find ordinance with Special Projects and review the wording.
Public Commit: Mr. Eklund—as a taxpayer he sees no difference in gaming revenues and that
gaming entities give a lot of monies to organizations. He does not understand why the City
should be put in a position to decide and that it is not the job of the City to use tax dollars this
way. Ms. Gill followed up stating that she hears from President of Neighborhood Association and
Homeowner Association in the community that our taxes should only be support more services
not supporting not-for-profits.
C. Finance Department-
1. City HSA Contributions to Civilians- Ms. Langley approached the committee to review the
HSA contribution to include civilian employees. She reviewed with Mr. Merkley options for
employees to ask the Council to review. It is her understanding that police/fire receives a $1,000
a year on January 10th each year to the employee HSA account simply because they are a city
employee and it was written into their contracts. Her research shows that only 18 civilian
employees enrolled in the HSA plan, which would only cost the city$16,500 per year(13 family
@ $1,000 and 5 single @ $700). But after speaking with Ms. Calabro she also understands the
city is saving funds because the cost of a HDHP plan vs the PPO is a savings of$1,800 per year for
each civilian family plan. (Fire/Police family$800 savings per year)
Mr. Samuel would like to have more data to take to the council because he believes this is
the direction insurance is going (to HDHP). Ms. Metcalf is to provide data for 35%and 75%of the
city moving to HDHP (family/single insurance cost and savings for the city)via e-mail. Include
Ms. Calabro and Ms.Jahn.
All agreed that more should be done to encourage/teach the savings that come along with
HDHP and with the discussion that the employee should save their deductible for future needs.
If the Council does allow this change we need to make sure it happens before fall insurance
enrollment time.
2. City Retiree Benefits to Civilians- Ms. Metcalf reviewed the additional expense if the city
allows current civilian retirees to pay the same insurance cost as current employees (this is
already in Fire/Police contract). There is the potential with current numbers that could cost the
city$110,448.80 annually. The longevity pay for these civilian employees would stop and could
help absorb the expense until longevity expires for all. Current retiree is a minimum of 55+years
of age and 20+years of service. Need to understand if Police/Fire can continue on city insurance
indefinitely (civilian retiree stop at 65). It is expense for our civilian retirees to continue
insurance coverage who have worked all their life and now cannot afford their portion of the
insurance premium. Ms. Metcalf is to report this data for the next 5 and 10 years. Mr. Merkley
is reviewing the current Ordinance 2004-OR-74. Options discussed—allows civilian retirees same
option as Fire/Police which is paying the current rate as full time active employees; change
percentage of premium (currently at 40%for civilian retirees)
3. 2018 Tax Rates- Ms. Metcalf presented paperwork for the committee to review our tax rates
to neighboring city, and townships; as well as, this year vs last year.
4. Circuit Breaker—Ms. Metcalf also brought paperwork reviewing Circuit Breaker Property Tax
Cap Impact information. August 2017 report indicated our max levy should be$4,154.459, while
we budgeted $4,330,000 and the January 2018 report shows $3,774,883. This will be the first
year the county will be doing the calculating for the levy. Ms. Metcalf will receive another
updated number next week but the accurate number will not be available until late December
when our actual settlement is received. Ms. Metcalf stated we are still expecting the actual to be
less than the $4,330,000.
D. Sanitation/Street—growth. Mr. Samuel knows we have added employees to Police/Fire and we
are probably going to be asked by Police/Fire to hire more, but we have not looked at
Sanitation/Street. Need to be looking into and talking to Commissioner Clark regarding his needs
because of the growth in the City. Ms. Gill indicated we will have 500 new house with the new
neighborhood. Ms. Gill also indicated that she is hearing we will need two new salt trucks.
Ms. Conlin asked that Ms.Jahn also review with Mr. Wilder the 2017 Vendor List which has been revised.
Mr. Ellis stated that he will be attending the NLCC Conference in November. Ms. Gill also stated Mr.
Zastawny is also planning on attending. Mr. Ellis stated that all councilmembers should go—it is very
informative.
Motion to adjourn—Mr. Ellis
Approved:
isa Gill, President
Atte
Vicki Conlin, Clerk